Pitting machine



Nov. 13, 1945. ca. w. ASHLOCK, JR 2,388,814

' FITTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet l /74 I earye 14 Ash/oak Jr ATTORNEY 1945- G. w. ASHLOCK, JR I 2,338,814

FITTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 Flls E George MZ/Ish lock Jr.- 3 W? ATTORNEY Nov. 13, 1945. 3, w ASHLQCK, JR 2,388,814

FITTING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1944 4 Shee tSSheet 3 INVENTOR George 14/ Ash/0 ck J/r ATTORNEY gtsgns TENT 1 rrr'rmo moms George w. lishloch, 3m, @aklitnd, cam. Application April 15, 19%, Serial No. 5331313 (on. rec-2v) d @litimm of drupaceous fruits such as olives, plums, prunes,

dates and the like. However, it is not limited in application to these, for it can be successfully employed upon any article having a substantially central stone or pit surrounded by an outer flesh portion. The machine of the present invention has proven particularly useful upon olives and it will therefore be described in this connection. However, it is to be understood that the machine may be employed on other like fruits or articles.

in my Patent 2,271,675 of February 3, 1942, I disclosed a machine frantically pitting articles of the class described. This machine has met with widespread commercial success. However, referring to that patout and particularly to Figures 2, 3 and i thereoi, it will-be observed that the stone was removed from the fruit along the longitudinal axis or the fruit in conjunction with a. portion of the fruit slightly larger than the stone in' crosssection. This was achieved by cutting a core in one side of the fruit with a tubular knife, in cruel oligmnent with-the stone, then moving the stone and the attached core into the tubular coring knife which is then withdrawn to remove the stone and core. Inasmuch as the stone was passed through the coring knife without crushing or splintering, it was desirable that the knife be for continuously and auto the present preferred form oi a size slightly larger than the stone to be removed. Now the usual practice is to grade fruit into different sizes and to then handle a fruit of only one or two sizes on a machine. When it was desired to handle other sizes of fruit, it was necessary to change the coring knives. This requires various sets of knives and their substitutlon for one another. Also the machine must be inoperative during that period of time while the change is being made. Also, because the core out in the fruit is of a size at least as large as the stone, e fairly sizable opening is made in one side of the fruit. This cuts away a considerable portion of the edible fruit.

It is in general the broad object of the present invention to provide a pitting machine of the class described which ca he successfully applied to various grades of fruit without changing the coring muves.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pitting machine which can handle simultaneously several sizes of a. fruit.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel pitting machine.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pitting machine of the class described wherein a small core is first cut in the fruit and then the stone is ejected. This enables a relatively small core to he cut whereby less of the fruit is cut away and lost. At the same time, a clean cut core is all,the.t is apparent once the pit is ejected and the fruit is not broken nor bruised. v

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein of machine embodying this invention is disclosed.

in the'drawings accompanying and forming a I part hereof,

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine while Figure 2 is another side elevation but partly in section to illustrate details of a machine embodying the present invention.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 32 of Figure 2, and illustrating the machine construction in transverse section.

Figure l is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, showing the relative position at one point in the operation of the pitting knife, the chuck for supporting the fruit and the coring knife.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating rotation of the coring knives.

The machine of the present'invention includes a conveyor for delivering the fruit to a pitting station. The fruit is generally delivered to the pitting station in apredetermined position and for this the straightening mechanism as shown The pitting plunger mechanism is shown particularly in my Patent 2,219,832 of October 29, 1940.

Referring t that patent, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2 in the accompanying drawings herein, a carrier structure, generally indicated at it, is movable past a. presently described pitting mechanism. The machine also includes a suitable frame generally indicated at it; the structure of the frame and of' the carrier structure in relation'thereto is fully disclosed in the aforementioned patents. The carrier includes a conveyor chain ii passing over sprockets l2 sup= ported upon shafts l3 suitably journalecl in the frame of the machine at each end thereof.

. provide a-support for of the plungers I shown in Figure 3. Each The pitting mechanism-employed is that disclosed in my Patent 2,219,832. This includes opposite parallel vertically extending side members 5| supported on frame I6 and joined together by the member 52 and threaded rods 54 extending through each side member SI and secured thereto by nut 53. Between the side plates is a pitting knife or plunger head structure which includes horizontal parallel plates 55 secured together in a spaced relation by spacers 55. Each plate 55 carries V-block 58 on opposite sides thereof and having angularly formed V-sections IOII on which 'roll the V-rollers 58. A stud GI supports each roller on a side member 5I. The V-blocks and V-rollers thus support the head structure provided by plates 55 for a reciprocating movement over the plane of the carrier structure It and, at the same time, for an up-and-down movement, so that the head structure moves toward and away from the horizontal plane of the carrier structure II).

, Means are provided on the head structure for operating a pitting -or plunger mechanism. This includes the plungers II suitably journaled in bearings 12 on plates 55. Fixed arms I4 are mounted upon one of the rods 54 and extend to the spaced levers I6 between which is mounted a cam follower TI. The extending end of each lever I6 is slotted as at I8 to engage a roller I9 carried upon each plunger II. The cam follower I1 is maintained in engagement with a cam 8| carried on shaft 39 by a spring 82 pushing on pad 8-3 joining .the levers I8. The spring urges the levers I6 clockwise in Figure 2' so that the cam follower engages the cam at all times. The shaft 39 is driven by a suitable chain 83 passed over a sprocket 84 to a suitable prime mover 35 mounted on member 52. Another sprocket 83 is provided on shaft 39 and a chain 81 is passed over it and about a sprocket 38 on shaft I3. I

A plate SI is mounted upon the extending ends I and extends transversely across the machine. It carries a plate 99 which supports a plurality of fruit cutting knives or plungers indicated generally at 25. These knives can be arranged in one or more rows across the plate 33 and in the machine illustrated two rows are employed. The construction of the knives is sub-assembly retained in 'place in the plate by stud 92 which engages cylinder 93. A plunger 94 carries the knife 25 for a reciprocating movement against the bias of spring 95. A plate 91 is screwed into the end of the cylinder to retain the spring in place and to serve as a guide for the stud 98 which extends through plate 91 and is screwed into the knife 23 to retain it in place in the plunger 94. A broken knife is quickly replaced by holding knife 26 and rotating the stud 38 to release the knife.

I have previously mentioned that the fruit carrier structure III included spaced conveyor chains II passed over sprockets l2 at each end of the frame of the machine. Intermediate these sprockets the upper run of the conveyor provides a horizontal conveyor section, the conveyor chains II being supported by suitable tracks or supports III provided on each side of the frame,

as appears in Figure 2. Each track rail III is on the side frame of the machine while its other end is supported, as appears in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in my Patent 2,271,675, by a suitable vibrating mechanism. Vibration of the mm. narticularly if it is of a fibrous nat r hingedasat H3 knife is provided as a,

A plurality of supporting plates II2 are mounted between corresponding links in the conveyor chains. A second plate I I4 is retained in a spaced relation with respect to plate II2 by studs [I5 and spacers I I6. Each of plates H2 and I I4 contains suitable apertures to support a plurality of fruit holders generally indicated at I20.

As appears particularly in Figure 4, each fruit holder is preferably formed with a suitable interior configuration enabling the article to be stoned to be positioned in a desired alignment. A suitable configuration is that taught in my Patent 2,250,518 wherein the fruit receivin cavity I2I is formed as an inverted truncated cone with opposite cavity walls substantially at an angle of from 32 to 44.

A suitable opening I22 in the holder is provided to permit entrance of the coring knife and release of the stoneand its associated core as will presently appear.

The coring knife structure comprises a subassembly I29 including hollow tubular knife generally Indicated at I30 and having a passage I3I adjacent its base to permit the entrance of air so that any solid material in the coring knife can escape readily. Each coring knife has a threaded end I33 extending beyond a plate I34 to which it is secured by lock nuts I35.

A double row of coring knives is mounted on plate I34 which extends across the machine. Plate I34 is supported on another plate I38 which extends across the machine, by spacers I39 and bolts I40.

To retain fruit in alignment during coring, plate 99 which carries the pitting plungersis provided with an extension in the form of a plate I4 I. This provides a support for threaded barrels I42 which are screwed into the plate I and locked in a desired adjustment by nuts I43. The barrels serve as bearings and guides for fruit retainers I44. A spring I41 is placed between the barrel and the concave head I48 on the retainer to mount the retainer resiliently. Lock nuts I49 permit the spring tension to be varied and the retainers to be adjusted in position in the supporting barrel.

'The coring knives are moved by the following structure. The machine side frame plates 5| are suitably apertured as at to pass extension plates I52 secured to the lower plate 55 and which extend to the outside of the machine. Frame members I6 are also apertured as at I53 to permit plate I38 and base I46 to be positioned and to extend across the machine. Two rods I51 are secured on each side of the machine to plates I52. At their lower ends these rods are joined to base I45. Plate I38 is removably mounted in a frame I53 which is mounted for sliding on the rods I51. It will be apparent that the coring knives and the ejectors follow the movement of the pitting head plate 55 and move with this plate at the same rate of advance with the conveyor since they are formed as an extension on the pitting head plate 552 To provide for movement of the coring knives, chains I5! are secured to each side of plates 9| and are then passed over guide pulleys I63 and depend downwardly to the coring knife reciprocatlng frame I56 which is mounted for a reciprocating movement on the guide rods I51. Springs I55, positioned between frame I55 and the base assaais plate I48 place a tension onthe chains I8! and ensure that these remain taut.

The pitting plungers and the coring knives are moved by the pitting head over identical paths except that when the knives are lowered by plungers H,- chains IBI raise the coring knives so the twoapDroach the receptacles but from opposite directions. The coring knives engage and cut fruit in receptacles immediately before they are engaged by the pitting plungers.

Stones and cores ejected by plungers 26 fall onto transverse conveyor belt I13. This is supported by rollers I" on each side of the machine. One of the rollers is mounted on a shaft I75 on one side of the machine and a V-belt I76 is trained about a pulley I I! on this shaft and a pulley I18 on shaft 89 to move the conveyor.

To strip any meat adhering to the plungers 26, a stripper is provided made up of rods I8I which extend transversely of the machine and carry stripper plates I82 on each side of a knife.

The operation of the machine will become further apparent upon considerin the following sequence of operation, particularly in connection with Figure 4.

The description will be made as the machine is operated continuously. However, it is to be understood that it can beoperated sequentially if th'e same weight on my previous pitting machine,

and pitting an equal mass on the machine of the present invention, the latter mass will exceed operation conducted in accordance with this indesired, that is, instead of moving the pitting,

coring mechanisms and the conveyor structure It continuously, the conveyor structure It can be moved to a pitting and coring position and brought to rest, the stoning, coring and pit-removing mechanisms operated, whereupon the conveyor mechanism isadvanced. However, this sequential operation is not nearly so fast and continuous operation is usually greatly preferred.

It being understood that shaft 39 is being rotated at a suitable speed, and that conveyor III is being operated in a. timed relationship therewith, and that each receptacle I20 contains fruit in alignment, the fruit is advanced to the fruit pitting and coring station as appears in Figure 2.

As the fruit advances, the pitting plungers are lowered to engage and force out the pits through the previously cut cores. At the same time, the coring knives are raised to engage and cut fruit in the receptacles just ahead of the pitting plungers. As the pitting plungers are lowered to engage fruit, the retainers IM also drop to hold fruit for cutting by the coring knives. -The retainers hit are independent of each other so it is immaterial I whether the fruit'be of a uniform size grade. As a matter of fact, the machine is capable of handling at one time all commercially packed sizes.

In some cases it is desirable to rotate the coring knives, and in Figure 5 I have shown a mechanism for effecting this. The coring knives are rotatably mounted in' plate I 38 as at I90. A fixed plate I 9| extends across the machine and supports a plurality of sleeves I92, one over the body I93 of each knife and fitting the body closely so that a pin I95 on the knife rides in a, spiral slot I 95 in the sleeve as the knife is reciprocated. In this way the knife is oscillated. If desired, the cutting edge on the knife can be serrated to facilitate cutting of the fruit.

From the foregoing I believe it will be apparent that I have provided a. machine which in a rapid and continuous manner enables a fruit to be pitted with a minimum flesh removal. In practice I am able -to increase by amaterial extent the quantity of fruit which is secured from the pitting operation. In other words, if one took two like masses of fruit an pitted one mass of vention. This should be apparent readily for the size of the core cut is independent of the fruit size for retainers I are adjusted to hold without bruising any size of fruit. The cut core facilitates subsequent pit ejection, the pitting plungers exerting but little force on the fruit.

Iclaim:

1. In a machine of thecharacter described, a

conveyor movable continuously over a path including a fruit coring station and adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom, along the path of advance of said conveyor, a fruit pitting station, said conveyor including a plurality of fruit holding receptacles each having a fruit holding portion tapering inwardly to an opening through each receptacle, a coring knife movable upwardly at said coring station through the opening in each receptacle to cut a core in a fruit in said receptacle to the pit therein, a retainer movable downwardly at said coring station to retain fruit in said receptacle during coring, a pitting plunger movable downwardly at said pitting station to eject said pit and said core, a plunger head structure carrying said knife, said plunger and said retainer, and means for moving said head (a) to lower said plunger and retainer to engage fruit in adjacent receptacles at said stations and engage and core fruit held in place in one of said receptacles by aid retainer.

2. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor movable continuously over a path including a fruit coring station and adjacent thereto and spaced therefrom along the path of advance of said conveyor, a fruit pitting station, said conveyor including a pluralityof fruit holding receptacles each having afruit holding portion tapering inwardly to an opening through each receptacle, a coring knife movable upwardly at said coring station through the opening in each receptacle to cut a core in a fruit in said receptacle to the pit therein, a retainer movable downwardly at said coring station to retain fruit in said receptacle during coring, means for rotating said coring knife during its core cutting engagement with the fruit, a retainer movable downwardly at said coring station to retain fruit in said receptacle during coring, a pitting plunger movable downwardly at said pitting station to eject said pit and said core, a plunger head structure carrying said knife, said plunger and said retainer, and means for moving said head (a) to lower said plunger and retainer to engage fruit in receptacles at said stations and to advance simultaneously with said conveyor and (by to raise said coring knife simultaneously to said conveyor including a plurality of fruit holding receptacles each having a fruit holding portion tapering inwardly to an opening through each receptacle, a coring knife movable upby said retainer,

thereto and spaced therefrom,

advance of said conveyor, a fruit pitting station,

wardly at said coring station through the openin: in each receptacle to cut a core in a fruit in said receptacle. to

tain fruit in said receptacle during coring, means operative during the raising of said coring knife for rotating said coring knife during its core cutting engagement with the fruit, a retainer movable downwardly at said coring station to retain fruit in said receptacle during coring, a pitting plunger movable downwardly at said pitting station to eject said pit and said core, a plunger head structure carrying said knife, said plunger and said retainer and means for moving said head (a) to lower said plunger and retainer to engage fruit receptacles at said stations and to advance simultaneously .with said conveyor-and (b) to raise said coring knife simultaneonsly to engage and core fmit held in place 4. In a machine of the character described, a conveyor movable continuousi eluding a fruit coring station and adjacent along the path of said conveyor including a plurality of fruit holdthe pit therein, a retainermovable downwardly at said coring station to re- :1 over a. path in-.

assure each having a fruit holding porto an opening through ing' receptacles tion tapering inwardly each receptacle, 9. coring knife movable upwardly at said coring station through theopening in each recsptacleto out a core in a fruit in said receptacle to the pit therein, a retainer movable downwardly at said coring station to retain fruit in said receptacle during coring, a pitting plunger movable downwardly at said pitting station to eject said pit and said core, a plunger head structure carrying said knife, said plunger, said re-.

tainer and said coring means, means for recip- .rocating said plunger head structure back and 

